Second Road

Episode 13: I'm only short, not weak

"So, what do you think school is like?"

Grandpa who just entered the house after entering the car into the garage immediately threw a question.

He looked fine after going through that crazy traffic jam. I almost threw up because I was in the car too long. I suffer from motion sickness if I stay in the car for too long.

Whatever I had had for lunch and breakfast it would have jumped out if we had been locked up in that crazy traffic.

"Great, not as complicated as I imagined. Everything's good."

I answered briefly and now I am sitting on the old living room sofa. My head is so dizzy. Maybe tomorrow I'll go home alone, on foot. Forcing yourself to ride in a car for a long time will only kill me slowly.

"So, everything's good? Good though. But I think you forgot something." Grandpa reached into his pocket and took out two pieces of money. He looked at me while grinning.

"Haru, you're so fucked. Time forgot to bring money for lunch." Grandpa chuckles at me. I could only lower my gaze because of the embarrassment that seemed to tickle my stomach. I was caught leaving the money on the table. All right, it was my fault.

"Then, do you want to eat now? Later your body really will not grow any semili goods. You don't want to be small forever, do you?" Grandpa teasing me. The talk of my body not being able to grow up was always used to make me eat something.

I'm shaking. "No problem, someone's buying me lunch." At least now I don't look too stupid. A good reason.

"A friend? Maybe you should bring him here later. I want to meet your first friend. Or maybe we could eat out with him." His face looks enthusiastic. Is that something that matters?

"Grandfather, you're overreacting. He was really good. I'm glad he wants to be friends with me. And I want to know something."

I hesitated to turn to him and he was ready to hear every sentence I might say.

"As for those who are looking for me, is it okay like this? I mean, what if they find me when I'm hanging around school and Grandpa's not with me? That scares me a little."

"That's not gonna happen. They won't be able to get into this area and about ten kilometers from here. It also covers your school." Grandpa sat down on the sofa and leaned against his comfortable backrest.

"Why?"

"Because there's something that limits them. You'll be safe if you don't go too far. And the shopping mall of that time wasn't included in it."

That explains a lot of things. It doesn't matter to me if it doesn't come out of the area that grandfather is referring to. Everything's gonna be okay. The new life I dreamed of will continue. Like a ship sailing in the ocean. The ship will continue to move wherever it does not touch land.

"And about that? Can I find out?"

Grandfather smiled, then his hands immediately targeted my hair. Then he rubbed it up and down slowly.

"Maybe later. Now get some rest, you're tired, right?"

I said, then walked to the room. I immediately changed clothes and worked on the pr afterwards. I don't want to have to rush to do it tomorrow morning at school like most people. It's not very elite. After all it was my first PR, it would be ridiculous if I didn't work on it at all.

***

The weather was clear this morning. Birds chirping around the tall branches of trees. The sun showed its charm early. No clouds block the light that hits the earth.

Finally there is a clear day this month after a few days the sky is covered with mega and the drizzle that accompanies it. The sky is friendly. Even I so want to paint the rainbow as an additional decoration so that the beauty looks more perfect.

Today is my second day of school. I've started memorizing some places here. But still I was always amazed to see how vast and great this place is. Not surprisingly, this school is private.

Everything's complete. Anything you can imagine about the definition of a perfect school is here. Comfortable classrooms, large canteen, swimming pool and sports field. And don't forget the full library. I just peeked at her yesterday with Arya. And maybe that place will soon be my favorite.

And it seems that the owner of this school also has a good taste in developing it. It was clearly drawn from the interior of this school as a whole. It cannot be looked at one eye.

"Hi, Haru. Good morning." Good morning."

Someone patted my back and greeted me casually. His tall posture, neat black hair and distinctive smile were etched clearly on his face.

"Ah, good morning, Arya."

I returned his greeting. Then rubbed my back that was patted earlier. It hurt a little because he patted it a little hard. He immediately took the spot right next to me because that was where he was.

Today I came a little earlier than yesterday, grandfather wants to visit his friend at eight. So he drove me early. The road looks as gentle as yesterday, and then it will turn terrible if it is late. You know, right? A traffic jam that can be frustrating if you get stuck in it.

Arya leaned on her chair and folded her hands behind her head to support her head.

"It's okay, Arya. No need to worry about me. I'm just short, not weak." I propped up my chin with my palm. Some people went into a class that was still empty. The wall clock moved slowly until I was lazy to see it.

"I didn't say you were short. But the hell, you're kind of cute. Ah, that's not what I meant. Well, you know, you're probably just a little late to grow up. Not a bad thing. You're two years younger than me anyway."

Arya hurriedly fixed her sentence, afraid that I would get angry or offended. But it's not a problem at all. He who would greet me and befriend me was more than enough. When I was in the parlour, I always sat alone in the corner of the room. Nobody wants to play, nobody cares about me.

You could say that I now have a development. Everything can grow if there is a will. Even fragile sprouts can still grow if there is sunlight.

***

"Your body is even smaller than I thought." Arya cursed as I took off my uniform. We're in the dressing room, preparing to take some sports lessons. It turned out to be true what Arya said, there was a run test in the first hour.

"Is that so?" I turned my back on him, then put on my clothes. I didn't pay much heed to his words. He's just a little happy teasing me about my height. We looked close in a super short time.

"Yes, I don't know how big you are because you always wear a jacket at school." He grinned, then joined her sports clothes.

"That's because the weather's cold." I folded my clothes and put them in my locker. After that, immediately move to the sports field.

A sports teacher was standing in a short-sleeved shirt with a whistle hanging around his neck like a necklace. His body is tall and slightly stout. Indeed that is the reflection of a fitness teacher who should be.

Everything lined up on the field following his instructions. Warm-up movements become a good start in starting sports activities, not difficult because my body is small and flexible enough. Gestures like kissing my knees or touching my toes are common to me. Even I can already make a slightly more difficult move like split and kayang.

Heating complete. The teacher gave instructions on the running route to be taken. Not too far, only about five kilometers. The route will pass several places in the city that is not too crowded.

"New boy, you're given an extra two minutes longer than the others because you didn't follow the previous rehearsal. So, don't let it not pass this test."

That gym teacher gave me a little dispensation. But who knows what will happen next. I am short, not weak. I will grow tall and big soon.

And so, the run began. The deafening sound of a long whistle sounded so. The students in the start position are scattering ahead of each other. Everyone wants to graduate, nobody wants to fail. That is one of human nature. It's a common thing. Never want to fail, always want to succeed no matter what.

Sometimes, people forget who they are. He's going so crazy about his goal. Anything is done for the sake of it, no matter the bad good. The most important thing is success.

It's been about ten minutes since we started. The sunlight that initially hit every inch of the body gently now changed slightly. It started to get hot and became. Sting each side of the skin with heat. It is still around half ten.

Some people start to slow down and get left behind. Some of them are still constant at their own pace without having to worry about failing. Sweat as large as corn seeds began to form and drip down to the ground, then dry up due to the wind or heat hit by the sun.

Some female students have started walking because they cannot run. Some of them even sit for a moment in the seats available for bus stops.

In the meantime, I'm still in good shape. Now I'm even among the five leading. I was eager to donate those extra two minutes to someone who was left far behind. I told you, right? I am short, not weak.

Now only male students are in the leading position, because their stamina is better than women. Ah, I was wrong. There was Yuna running beside me. She was the only girl who was still constant with her speed, even though her face was already red due to the heat of the sun.

Then in front of me were three boys, Arya taking the lead. No wonder he has long legs. If likened, he was like a war horse. Fast, agile and dashing. But I don't want to lose. The heat of the sun has made me drunk on victory, even though I know this is not a match.

It seems like three-quarters of the parts we've finished. My breathing had also started to cramp, but unfortunately I had no desire to lose.

A few moments later I started to feel hot. Not only the heat from the sun, but also the heat from my own body. Somehow my steps felt lighter, but part of my body began to feel no more. But no problem, my run got faster and I was in second place. A male student was in front of me and Arya was in third place. Yuna only had to settle for being in fifth position after someone overtook her.

Our school was starting to be seen from a distance, and the teacher was already preparing there with a stopwatch in hand. Only thirty meters left. I increased my speed, leaning slightly forward so that my weight could affect my running speed, so that my position was now number one.

But I did not think Arya even overtake and now we are racing to reach the end point. It was only a few meters left until I finally put a little pressure on the leg. Those last few steps got faster and I managed to secure first place.

The teacher pressed his stopwatch, then looked with an expression of disbelief. Arya was in second place, followed by a male student and followed by Yuna, the only girl who defeated dozens of other men.

I was satisfied with my results, while the teacher was still looking at me with a face of disbelief. As if he said. "Where could a short brat like him run this fast."

Suddenly all parts of my body became light until I could no longer stand on the ground. My head suddenly dizzy as if spinning round. My body is still hot and now I can see stars.

My consciousness began to disappear and my body collapsed. Everything became dark and silent.