THE MENTARI FOR ESTUARY SEASON 2

CHAPTER 38, COMPETITION FOR STUDENTS

The campus was horrendous, all students and students hope the lecturer gathered to murmur (kayak ant aja), a notice board. What the hell is there?

“Back opened! University Student Art Week (PEKSIMITAS). For more info, can visit our website as usual, come on, register yourself!”

“Han, later do not take the PDF if you want,” said Riana, who was suddenly behind Hanum.

“Eh yes mbak, do you want to come too?” ask Hanum.

“Iya, I'm the same Muara joined the vocal group but... Come on, to the cafeteria, I'm laper,” take Riana. Hanum just nodded.

***

Furthermore, what happened was the discussion of students who were not far from the biennial competition held by universities throughout Indonesia. All have the same vibes and enthusiasm, what's more, hear-hear this competition will be held offline again, after two years ago had to be online/online due to pandemic.

“Nesh, I'm kind of scared huh?” Hanum broke the silence. Classroom, daytime. While waiting for a lecture schedule that coincided (though different classes), they decided to have a conversation for a while.

“Fear what?” ask Ganesh.

“Saingan university level already a lot, obviously different from SLB which sometimes even can not have any opponent at all. About, can I not ya?” lamented Hanum, who began to insecure her.

“Can be dear. You are not alone, let's share the sense of insecure together, wong I also follow. Yes, we face everything together.” Ganesh said as he rubbed Hanum's arm. Hanum smiled, and gently squeezed the man's hand.

“Okay, there's a weak boy and a protective princess here, huh? From far away he heard his voice.” Unwanted comes suddenly ; someone very toxic, which – if possible – avoided aja, rather than add-nambain disease.

“Hi, Hanum, finally we can meet here too. And... Ganesh's? I didn't know you could go to college here.”.

“Why can't I? This campus is public property right, does not belong to the ancestor lo?” ganesh sharp said. Hanum was horrified. For a moment his grip tightened over the arm of the chair, and his leg naturally nudged Ganesh's leg, but he brushed the woman's leg and Ganesh got ready to stand. But in order, the troublemaker was called his friend, so save him from Ganesha's rampage that seemed to be very deadly earlier.

“Yang, do not mosquito yes, please,” pinta Hanum slowly, after making sure the troublemaker really has gone with his friend.

“It is precisely...” said Ganesh while removing Hanum's handrails, “I hope to see you again as he is in his own position, there is no you. Let's not hit it until it dies..” he continued. Hanum looked in shock. Ganesh is a typical casual person, if there is a problem, he never solved with threats let alone anger. But if the stage is approaching serious and semi-scary like this, Hanum also knows, if his position and what happened it has lasted long and too deep, and can not be tolerated anymore.

***

The man's name was Reno, originally, Hanum was good friends with him because they were an online time class English Class (Toefl). And what makes him excited to tell Ganesh at that time about his new friend is, because it turns out Reno knows Ganesh well. But what is not known at all by Hanum is, Reno is the perpetrator of bullying that makes Ganesh so experience “mental breakdown”. Along with other school friends (Reno and Ganesh were once a school, but different classes), Reno and his friends often bully the child. Until now, the bullying for Ganesh will never end. And well, that's the end of the day that makes Ganesh seem like a monster when it must be reunited with the person who always hurt him from long ago to now.

“Nesh, where are you going?” hanum asked in shock when he found out that the boy had taken out his cane.

“Go home,” the answer is short.

“Your class?” ask Hanum.

“I don't care.” Said cold.

“But, Nesh...”

“Udah, self-tool there!” throw the man away while throwing Hanum's hand violently, making the girl almost toppled over. After leaving, Hanum let his man go, while he himself decided to go to class immediately, because in less than 15 minutes, his class would start soon.

***

Riana and Hanum. Sepi, There is only the sound of a spatula clashing with a frying pan, while the hands are busy working, the mind of the owner of the hand is busy wandering everywhere, until...

“Dek, look out for the charred food!” remember a sound slowly, but enough to make the owner of the hand holding the spatula was aghast.

“Ma-Sorry mbak..” said.

“Ssssttt, it’s okay, Dear. Udah, you sit there aja yes, let this mbak who continue..” said the owner of the voice earlier. The girl simply nodded, and leaned back tiredly on the dining room chair that was not too tall.

“What's up, Hanum?” ask the girl who is done with her cooking.

“Nothing, mbak,” he replied softly.

“Ganesha?” Riana tried to guess. A slow nod followed the teardrops afterwards, which was hurriedly rubbed rough by Hanum.

“You can cry as long as you want, I’ll be your shoulder..” said Riana softly. Hanum shook his head.

“No, I don't cry..” A LIE! Hanum is not that strong. Because when Hanum said “no, I don't want to cry”, his heart turned out to have broken first, and – just might – bleed. Riana did not say anything, but she just hugged Hanum, rubbing her back slowly. The warmth ran the girl slowly but surely, and something that pressed her continuously came out as well, and forced her shoulders to go up and down and shake violently afterwards.

“Thank you for being a strong crutch for Ganesha, deck. I hope there is a soul mate between you, because you look really fit, and mbak will be very happy when you are happy.” said Riana slowly while gently rubbing Hanum's hair.

“Aamiin, mbak,” the girl answered raucously. Riana's phone on the table rang, forcing the girl to break her arms to Hanum.

“Halo, Ra...”

“Yes, come in, I'm inside, there was a little incident. But everything is done..”.

“Iya, okay..” click – disconnected connection.

“Who is mbak?” hanum asked, after he cleaned his face in the bathroom.

“Mas Muara, he came here with Ganesha, Vishnu and Dian, right we have a joint exercise today.” Riana replied while moving her dishes to the bowl, to be enjoyed together later.

“What are we training here for the studio?” ask Hanum again.

“Ke dong studio... Yuk, they've been tapping the door,” said Riana. Hanum nodded. So together they both open the door, and greet their friends and lovers.

“Yoi, can also tuh. Coincidentally, I again laper mbak,” seloroh Wisnu.

“Gosh nih son, new feeling aja eat fried noodles double in the campus cafeteria earlier, still laper aja,” comments Ganesh while removing his shoes.

“Are you also not a laper, Nesh? From the old days still at home also you like nikus right? Though have eaten before,” Goda Riana.

“Ah, mbak mah..” Ganesh swept, uh blushed. His face was red.

“Eh gesss, what if you sing pop? I also want to learn dong..” asked Dian suddenly.

“What does that mean, Yan?” ask Hanum.

“This is my own genre, keroncong, so. Yes indeed this is a hereditary genre in the family anyway, the same keroncong mixed sari. But, I want to learn something new too,” said Dian.

“Udah have ever sung pop before?” ask Hanum.

“Udah, but it does not matter because it is often said to be strangely the same temen-men, yes it has run out it does not learn anymore,” replied Dian sadly.

“Don't be horrified they said, Yan, you will not eat with them, not be paid UKT and cost-bossed them, yes pede, learn aja.” said Hanum, and be acknowledged by others.

“That's yes. But if you think I'm just as weird, what? You guys would not bully if I did not fit in pop?” ask Dian carefully.

“Ya not laaaah!” all compact chorally. Fortunately there is no sound one, two, three, four, five (there is such a thing?), so their musicality has been trained because of lectures in music programs.

“Job you guys..” Dian flushed her face, but her laughter sounded crisp. It's not wrong that he's getting into Hanum CS's circle now, because in fact, they're really compact gank abis.

“But this year, elo tetep follow keroncong genre huh, Yan?” ask Hanum.

“Iya. Where so heard the news of this competition will be held offline, eyang putri, eyang kakung, father and mother I plan to watch again.” complained Dian.

“Lho good dong, support from people that means it supports and increases the percentage of our confidence to succeed you know,” said Hanum.

“I agree the same said Hanum, who. After all, keroncong is a genre that has flowed in your blood, every day you always practice with them. What don't-don't... They don't agree you learn another genre?” ask Vishnu carefully.

“Ya agrees anyway, the students keroncong in the family sanggar in Solo ya learn pop songs as well, Just so pop keroncong that you know, so there is a distraction they learn the same original keroncong modern keroncong. The mixed essence is also so, what's more, now the time of Deni Caknan Happy Asmara, yes they can not casually close their eyes with the development of the times including the genre of music that exists. They are supportive and objective really..” Dian explained.

“Well, good right, that's also what you want? La keep lapo ndak mind to be dionnton same family lo all?” Hanum.

“Fear of abuse, Han, I'm not a person..”.

“Ealah no let-mari arek iki. Rek did not know yes, Dian is often called as “black horse” in class, by the way can not, can not, ngko pas wayae exam bijine isok A dewe you know...” says Hanum.

“We podo-podo A yo pas iko,” argue Hanum.

“La yo kui, keep what else to mess around with? Uday yuk, maem sek ae, keep training..”.

“Oke, sek, if so, take the food first,” said Riana.

“Yoh, don't miss mbak..” says Hanum. Riana.

***

Training ground, night. Hanum, Vishnu, Muara, Riana and Ganesh had already completed their training. Hanum and Ganesh follow the solo branch of female and son vocal pop, while Riana, Muara and Vishnu try their luck in the vocal group with some other friends they know, but all of them have gone home. Now they are still waiting for Dian who is practicing keroncong with his vocal coach who was brought all the way from a special solo to support the girl.

“Vote-e Dian asline slick you know..” comments Riana while watching the course of the exercise.

“Iya, soft-soft yoopo ngono. If brought to pop, it does not feel very difficult. Who has and or still often says he sings pop that strange, fix, he does not understand the original music..” said Hanum.

“I agree with you, the.” Ganesh said as he rubbed Hanum's arm.

“Do not elus-elusan here po-o, do not understand a you guys if the studio tuh atmosphere-e dark-dark yoopo?” ledek Riana's.

“Awakmu gelem a darling?” ledek Muara's.

“Hussss, ojok willing in dark place, ah, danger said granny.”.

“Whose grandmother, Nu?” ask Ganesh origin.

“Mbuh granny-e sopo, but the advice of the grandmothers is not to be violated you know, can kualat entar..” said Vishnu. Dian walked out of the training room, followed by her vocal teacher. So happy and relieved, he immediately hugged the nearest one from his position, and thank God, it fell to the right person, Vishnu.

“Udah done, babe?” ask the gentleman softly.

“Udah. Oh yes, this is Mr. Ardan, my vocal coach from Solo... You want to fly all the way here to train me. Mr. Ardan, this is my girlfriend Vishnu, and these are my friends..”.

“Ah, great-great all of you. This, I deliberately came here for Dian, because if the language of the ancients was Dian this “bau hand”, only wanted to be held the same as usual megang him. Same other, isok nyandet-nyandet iki ngko.” said Mr. Ardan. Dian blushed in shame.

“Pak Ardan is the one who trained my vocal since I SD until now.”.

“La ho-oh, mulo wes ngerti karepe. Yowes nduk, I'm not saying goodbye sek yo, be careful when he comes home.” said Mr. Ardan. Dian nodded and kissed the priestess of the hand of her vocal teacher, and was followed by the other children. After Mr. Ardan died, they immediately cleaned up their belongings, continued to go home, before making an appointment to return to training tomorrow. Good luck to all of you, wish the best results.

(BBC).