{Fifth Schedule Has Started}

{Fifth Schedule Has Started}

I close my math textbook and notebook and then put them in my bag. The fourth schedule has ended, concluding the math study session this time. Setting my gaze ahead, a female young teacher who previously taught us about linear equations is about to leave our class. Chika, as the President, lead the other students to express their gratitude.

"Stand!" Chika said swiftly while standing up. Chika's orders were followed by all the students in the class. Including me, who sits in the back.

"Thanks for the time!" Chika said those words while slightly bowing her body. Then, followed again by all students in the class. The voices of the students unanimously say, "Thank you for the knowledge!".

After that, all the students sit again on their seats compactly, while the teacher stepped out of the classroom. After the silhouette of the teacher disappeared, the class begins to buzz with students chatting. Some started joking happily with their seat neighbor, some approached their friends, some continue their time with reading books, and I just sit there quietly watching, observing.

Well, instead of having nothing better to do, I'd better take out the next subject's textbook. If I am not mistaken this time is...

I draw the English book given by the school from my bag. The cover of the book shows one of the historical monuments in England, namely Big Ben Clock, or the formal name is Elizabeth Tower. I tried to remember the material from the previous session while flipping through the pages of the book. Until finally stopping at a chapter entitled 'What a Creative Poster'.

In last week's English lesson, we studied the structure of posters and advertisement text. So, today is definitely...

When I almost got an answer from my thought that there was nothing to do, our English teacher came into the class. As if repeating the previous time, Chika stood up again and was followed by all the other students to greet the teacher.

The female teacher looks old, and elderly. Her skin is a tan color with wrinkles that are visible even to me who is sitting in the back. Walking towards the teacher's desk, her short hair looked stiff even though the fan is blowing it, while what was blown by the wind were the teacher's clothes. A white uniform with a black skirt, as a state servant should be dressed. Neat, polite, and authoritative.

After she sits down, the students followed. After flipping through the pages in the teacher's notebook, she talks about the material we had studied last week. She spoke in a raised voice so that the students could hear her. Vocal sounds that sound hoarse due to age factors can be heard.

"Today, you will be given an assignment" Said the teacher.

As expected, since yesterday we studied the material, there will definitely be assignments today. She continues, “This time is a practical task, practice making a poster with any theme. By combining the poster technique with the advertisement text that you have learned, you will create posters by those. The theme is free, you can do anything, just don't make anything that broke the rules, yes?”.

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The class starts to get noisy with students' voices, although not loud enough that it will irritate the elderly teacher.

A practical task, huh? It shouldn't be too much trouble this time though.

Some words that absolutely shouldn't be cast, came upfront in my heart. Disastrous.

"Ah, this time task is group work, and of course, I will choose the members myself" said the teacher.

…

Seriously?

With the sound of the class starting to get noisy from the complaints of many students, All I can do is smile to hide my panicked face, even though no one will see it.

…

She starts to mention the names of the class students which are written on a white paper which she held in her right hand, "Group 3, Rena, Gibral, Fana...".

My name hasn't been called. Hopefully, I can be with the ones I know, well, although the chances are small since it can be counted with less than five fingers.

"Group 5, Arkan".

“!!!” Clinching my hands while praying that I could be with someone I know.

“… Chika”, Wow, a sudden shivering in my skin.

"Tomi".

"Yesss, luckyyy~" Tomi said in silence.

And the last one, “… Arya”.

Huh? Who?

My heart is beating really fast. My name was not mentioned in the Arkan group and the others...

Why??? Even though almost everyone I know is in the same group. No way...

Suddenly, a boy's voice calls out to the English teacher, "Miss, Arya is absent today. He's sick, a fever apparently".

"Oh, I see. Then the replacement is…”.

Hoho? Is this a joke from the universe to make me panic at first? Yessss, it turns out that I still have a chance-

"... Shafa".

Eh? Who?

…

WHY??? DAMN, YOU UNIVERSE! DON'T GIVE HOPE IF YOU WILL JUST END UP BETRAYING IT, FOR GOODNESS SAKE!

“Okay, next…”.

The teacher continued, "Group 6, Hana, Rifa...".

…I can't say anything anymore. If THAT Shafa someone is not present in class just for today, I can feel at ease...

…

No, it can't be like that. I've told myself and the others that I'll try. I must be able to.

The teacher has finished listing members for all students in the class. In total, there are 9 groups of 36 students. So, about 4 students per group. My group, thankfully, it's a group full of girls, me, Rifa, Farya, and Saena. I will work with them. I have to.

…

Well, it's not like I really can't make friends. It's just that, I'm worried that their first impression of me is not very good already.

The teacher in front put the name list on the top of the table. "Okay, all the group members who have been determined gather with their group mates. I have prepared the materials at the school stationary store, please take them yourself. Ah, don't go there as a group, okay? One representative for each group only".

All the students followed her directions. Everyone started to walk towards their respective group mates. And me who is still sitting on a chair, looked right and left looking for my group mates. They had gathered earlier and fixed their eyes on me. Then, as if they were planning something, they looked at each other and nodded, only then returning their gazes to me while waving their hands up and down.

I got up from my sweet seat, walking towards those who called. The one waving her hand was Farya, she's a cheerful girl with a black ponytail, quite a close friend of Chika because I often see them walking together. On Farya's right side is Rifa, a girl with short black hair who wears glasses. And finally, on the left side, there is a girl named Saena. Saena is a beautiful girl with blonde hair, quite the European aura that girl has.

I continue walking towards the table they were occupying. And they keep their eyes fixed on me. The sound of my heart pounding is loud, but sluggish enough that it is still on symphony with my footstep.

I finally arrive at where they were sitting and I say, “L-Let's work hard together” by slightly bending my waist.

They answered, "Yes" in unison.

I then sit beside them.