Senior, Stop Teasing me!

Behind the Name



I could only look at some of the "New Student Admissions" brochures lying on the floor, for the umpteenth time I thought about which direction I should go. Really, I want to be like the rest of my friends. You can decide something easily such as by following a friend, close to home or just trying.

“Let me go to the same school as my friend, Dad.” That's my decision, trying hard to get an opinion out. My father is the most assertive figure in the family, whether since when I feel that the figure of the father scares me to make a decision. If you look to the past, you are the closest to me no matter how big of a family problem that sets us apart.

“Where?” It wasn't a 'yes' or 'no' answer, but it was a question my father was getting serious about to hear my next answer.

“There's no reason for sure, it's just that all my friends chose to go in there. It would be nice to have a friend I already know to be able to adapt to the new environment,” I said as I handed over one of the brochures I took from the many brochures scattered on the floor.

“Son, aren't you used to it?” Dad's question got me thinking back, since when can a new environment intimidate my association? I've been living as a transient as an ancient human being, from one region to another in search of food.

“Yes. Father's right.” I doubt the decision to return.

“Go to sleep, it's late at night. Tomorrow morning I'll drop you off.” It seems like an absolute statement to me. I saw the message icon that went into my phone's inbox, from a friend.

From : Apriliawan

With your achievements, of course, any favorite school will be easy for you to enter. Even so, I wish we were one more school.

I let out a deep breath, a heavy weight pressing down on my chest making it hard to breathe. I realized, the other reason for me to enter SMK was because he was there. I've always had a hard time deciding on something, the process of arriving at that decision through the many possible predictions that go through repetition with no clear end sign. I could only read the message over and over again without knowing what answer I would respond to until my eyes were tired and asleep.

I thought tomorrow my father would take me to the SMK I had proposed before, imagining to surprise me that we were going to one more school and hope for one class to return. But in the end, I realized that the direction you chose was a different direction than what I imagined.

SMK Negeri favorite and better than any school that ever existed. In fact, the SMK that I wanted before, could not compare to this school.

But thinking that this school was not the name of the school I wanted before, made me refuse to enter this school. Many considerations are now unraveling in my brain, including the location of the school that is too far away that will make me live in the boarding house and then impact on the more away I from my parents and sister. That reason I can't accept, I don't want us to be apart again, for the next three years. It was enough I lamented the fate of my life moving around and living scattered.

Ever since I was a child, my father had gone to a foreign land to earn a living, leaving behind my mother, me and my two sisters. We are not a family born with a golden spoon or silver spoon in our mouth. It was that situation that made us have to live harder than other people's lives. Makes me try more to get a scholarship since Elementary School.

“Dad, I don't want to come here.” I said the thing that made my eyes glow. But my father didn't budge a bit. Maybe I'm just a snot kid who doesn't understand why you chose a different direction than you think. My footsteps felt heavy to follow his steps.

I admit, the school is vast and truly remarkable.

“Look, Son. Isn't this school awesome. I have nothing I can promise you for your future, I can only give you a glimmer of hope. Best education for your future.”

“Why did you choose a major

this?” The question of a person acting as a final stage selector who is now sitting firmly behind a table. The question made me think hard.

“There is no special reason that makes me choose this major, even this morning I had refused to enter this school.” I could not think of a single answer to please a middle-aged man who was now giving a sharp look towards me. Shouldn't I give you the answer that this major is the one I dreamed of? At least that middle-aged man will give me more points.

“You should know, Schoolgirl. Your answer becomes decisive here.”

“ ... ” I'm still silent. Honestly, I still have the intention of not getting into this school.

“Then what made you change your mind?”

“I'm just trying to hold on to the hope that my father entrusted.”

“It was a touching reason. Only, what makes you sure that we will accept students who have no interest in this school before? Out there, many students who have high dreams for school here so they try their hardest to be able to meet the criteria of school.”

“The document you hold now is more than that criterion. If you look back at the criteria you mean, there is not a single line of criteria that says that prospective students must have a high interest for school here.” Did I say it arrogantly? Yeah, I'm confident enough to say it. But, wasn't it a moment ago that I intended to give up? Then why try to boast as if I deserve to be accepted.

All the organizers fell silent and just threw a glance at each other.

“Alright, you can come out.” The tone I heard was so low just after the selection team saw the documents I attached as a condition of selection, making me step out of the room in doubt. However, the warm gaze that led to me then made me smile lightly. My father was waiting behind the door.

The clock shows at 2 o'clock

daylight. My dad and I just came back from a nearby minimart looking for a drink and a hungry stomach.

My father kept reading the list of announcements of students who passed the selection on the notice board. The list of announcements of each major is lined up in school mading. The row of white paper stuck on the top side makes it difficult to read the results. I only read the names of other students written starting from the last line according to the majors I applied for. From the last registration line to the next sheet I can't find my name, should I be happy? I have hope not to go to school here. However, the smile from my father's lips carried another aura.

“Who is Zytha Princess? I guess he was the smartest student on this selection.” I turned to hear my name being the discussion of the old man behind me. Now I know the reason for the smile on my father's lips. God does not listen to my prayers.

“Who is he?”

“She's a pretty girl.” I smiled comically at my father's reply trying to answer another parent's question after question about a name that was in first order of New Student Admissions. My father prides his own son.