See You Tonight
Chapter 13: Teacher of English
Just a few seconds until the bell goes off. Everyone in my class seems to have occupied their seats, except for Ruben. This will probably be the third time he will be late. Of all the people in my class, only Reuben has ever been late, even if he is late today, this will be the third time. In fact, Ruben's address is the closest to the school compared to others in this class. His house is only about 50 meters from the school. I don't know why he would be late if the distance between home and school was that close.
"Tatts... Tettt's... Tettt..," at last the bell rang and Reuben still did not reveal his nose.
The first lesson this morning was English. I don't know what punishment will befall Reuben today. Last week, he was 2 times late on Wednesday and Thursday. He was punished for cleaning the classroom pages and removing the blackboard during class hours.
After a while since the bell rang, the English teacher came in. After that, the class leader directly led the class to prepare and give his greetings.
"Good morning everyone" he said shortly after we finished greeting him.
"Good morning sir," we answered compactly.
"Okay, looks like this is our first meeting? Last Sunday we could not meet because on Tuesday you are still Orientation, while on Friday you go home early huh? Too bad haha," he said, ending with a small laugh. It seems like this English teacher is not too rigid and may also be quite humorous. He may also be quite young.
"OK no problem, now before we get into the material, it would be nice if we start with the introduction well. Father's name is Etwar or can be called Etwar sir. Her full name is Slamet Wardoyo. In the past the early days the father was still called Slamet sir, but it has been two years ago there were summarizing the name of the father so Etwar haha, Etwar haha, But you are quite happy because it sounds a bit westernized right hahahaha..," continued Etwar ended with a pretty loose laugh this time, followed by a loose laugh from us as well. As I expected, this teacher was quite humorous as well.
"Next, I will name you one by one... For those whose names are called please raise your hand... Don't lift weights... Just raise your legs... Bothered to lift the load... Especially if you lift your feet hahahahaha," he continued again which was greeted with laughter by the entire class.
However, not yet had time for Etwar sir to start obscuring, suddenly Ruben came in a hurry.
"Doctors... Tokktoctok... Excuse me." said Ruben after knocking on the door several times.
"Please come in" replied Etwar.
Then Reuben came in with a face that looked anxious and tired (probably because he ran from his house to school).
"Sorry sir, I'm late" said Ruben, bowing his head.
"Yes I know you're late, so why?" reply mr. Etwar.
"If you'd like, can I take your lessons?"
"By, please. But before that, why are you late?"
"So I woke up late sir, sorry..."
"Where is your house?"
"The Mango sir."
"Yesampunnn how could your house be that close but even late. You should be ashamed of your other friends whose homes may be farther away from you but can still come on time. Do not repeat again yes," said Mr. Etwar quite firmly.
Then Reuben went straight to his seat.
"Eh uh uh uh, who told you to sit down?" said Mr. Etwar while pointing at Ruben.
"Sorry sir, I think I can sit down" Ruben said in confusion.
"Why did you not become a comedian, sir?" suddenly Ahsan made a sound from behind me.
"If you're a comedian, who's your English teacher?" again, the answer from Etwar made the whole class laugh.
After that, Etwar sir started calling our names one by one. After completing his suspension, Etwar used the remaining time to begin discussing the first material.
***
First break in the classroom 10-7.
"You want to go to Lang's cafeteria?" said Ahsan who was beside him already had Ruben. Like I said before, the two of them always seem to be together. Maybe they have become friends.
"May, come on," somehow they took me to the cafeteria today, usually they don't. I actually wanted to ask if they had become best friends so it always looked at the same time, but maybe it was disrespectful. So, I broke my intention.
It was my first time to the cafeteria during my first hour break. I was very surprised when I got to the cafeteria. I never thought it would be this crowded, even so crowded to the point of making me a little dizzy just by looking at it.
"this serious? Is it always this crowded in the cafeteria?" I asked with still surprised.
"Yes, when you decided to go to the cafeteria, it was the same that you had decided to enter into the 'battlefield'" Ruben replied in a serious tone.
"Hahahaha what the hell," Ahsan replied in response to Ruben's reply.
"So, do you have enough guts to go to war, Galang?" reuben continued the prologue.
"It looks like I'm still not ready for this, you guys just go to the cafeteria. I'll just go back to class like this" I replied as I headed back to class. I feel really bad for them, when they want to take me but I'm like this. Looks like I'll apologize to them when they get back from the cafeteria.
***
Nightfall.
The night sky is more crowded than the night before. That countless star glitter, was like exorcising loneliness. The wind that normally carried a cry, now sounded like it was humming.
The moon looks like it's smiling because it's so happy tonight. Her smile looked like the smile of a very sweet girl.
Slowly but surely, I began to get along with my friends. I just realized that the thing I had to do in order to quickly get along with them was to think of them as friends first.
***
On the eve of sleep, I opened a novel that I had just bought. I haven't read a novel for long.
When I had just opened the palm that sealed the novel, I was reminded of the bookstorekeeper. I wonder why he hasn't retired and is enjoying his 'jerja' by relaxing at home? Does he still have the ambition to be made? I don't know, maybe only he knows.
***
Seriate
