1.

My phone is ringing. I still don't want to wake up and ignore it. Though, if I realize that my phone is ringing, I already woke up, isn't I?

"Arkan, hurry up! It's your first day in the second semester, don't be late!"

Mom's voice calling makes me wake up. I got up from my sleeping position and sit on the bed. Yawning, I took my phone to look at the time. The clock shows 5:45 a.m. My room feels really cool and dark. I can see a stray light under my door frames. My hanging fan makes a buzzing sound while turning left and right, can't see it but I can feel the wind hitting and missing me.

"Looks like it's going to be an ordinary day..." I said weakly

Monday, 26th December. I got out of bed and went down to the first floor. Heading to the kitchen, My nose catches a nice and warm smell of tea.

"Wow, a morning tea. I would want it" I said to My mom who is brewing tea in a cool morning.

"Mom has eaten snacks, while you haven't. You can't drink the tea yet" Mom answered. She continues, "Take a shower first, I'll prepare breakfast for you".

"-Kay..."I can only agree because this drowsiness distracts me, if this keeps up, I might end up in the bed again rather than the bathroom. I'm in the bathroom to wash my face and take a shower... I guess not.

After 10 minutes. I finished taking a shower and went to my room to wear my school uniform.

"Ah, you are now clean and neat. Mother has prepared breakfast for you. Eat and get ready for school" Said Mom who sees me went into the living room.

Mom made stuffed buns and hot tea. Stuff that is easy for the stomach to digest. I sit down and started eating my breakfast.

I finished my breakfast. Intended to go straight to school because the clock is showing 6:15 a.m. Actually, the school starts lessons at 08:00 in the morning. However, students are required to enter early since we will have the Principal speech in the schoolyard today, About the second semester and such.

"Ah Arkan, just a moment, Mom has prepared lunch for school".

Mom gives me a box-looking thing that is covered with green cloth with red stripes. Definitely a food container. "What's in it?" I asked.

"Hehe, just look at it when you're at school" Mom looks like someone who will strike a prank on children.

Well let it be, this makes me save some money too.

I said to myself.

"Thanks, I'm leaving".

"Be careful".

I took the bicycle stored beside the porch of the house. The bicycle that Mom said has been around since her high school days. Indeed the model is like an old bicycle. This bicycle has a back seat so you can take someone with you. I can imagine both Dad and Mom being together on this bicycle. Frightening.

...

Ordinary day. The air is cool and the dew flies. The sun's rays almost shone upon me, only blocked by the twin mountains behind me.

I took the route I usually take. The suburban route, this is not the closest route. I chose this route because of its peaceful and serene conditions, rather than going through the main road which is full of vehicles. Noisy.

After cycling for about 25 minutes, I arrived at school. Quite a lot of students have arrived.

I entered through the gate.

"Good morning".

"Good morning".

I exchanged greetings with the school security guard.

Not only us, but many students also greet each other as friends.

I get off my ride and start pushing it. There is special parking for cyclists next to the teacher's parking lot.

I park my bike, lock it using a standard cycle lock, then start walking toward my class. My class is on the second floor of building A. Not too far from the bicycle parking lot. After arriving at class, I immediately go to my seat to sit down. Burying my head into my arms above the desk.

"Ahoy, young man, good morning" A familiar voice greeted me in a pirate tone.

I replied, "Good morning, Roger" in a military way.

The one who greeted me was Tomi, he stood beside my desk.

"How can a pirate win against an armed military force?".

"Struggle..." I answered simply. What is he talking about? Pirates nowadays also use dangerous firearms.

"Why are you so listless today?" Ask Tomi.

"Have I always been excited?".

"That's true..." He agrees shortly. Somehow I felt a silent contempt.

Tommy continued asking, "So, how was your vacation?"

"You call that a vacation?" I answer with a question.

"Can you not answer my question with another question?" Tomi complaints.

"Sorry" I said short.

"Fake".

"True" I counter his word.

"You...".

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

We both laughed a little. It's not a conversation between close friends should be, but this makes me comfortable.

"You're not going to ask how I spent my vacation?" continued Tomi.

"No need to ask something that is already known" I ask with a plain face.

"Hooo? What did I do?".

"Go to gam-".

{To Every Student That Presents In The School, Please Group As A Class and Head Towards The School Yard}

My answer is cut by an announcement.

The announcement is repeated twice.

{To Every Student That Presents In The School, Please Group As A Class and Head Towards The School Yard}

Everyone in my class gets up and starts walking toward the front-side glass door. Like an organized pack of robots.

"What's up?" Ask Tomi.

"Probably the Principal will have some speech today".

"What a pain. Didn't the Principal have some weird speech back in the day?".

"He had. But, I think this time he will only talk about 'The second semester has begun' kind of thing" I answered.

"Well, whatever. Let's just go. Or the patrolling teacher will be mad".

"Yeah" I answered short.

The schoolyard is decently large. It has a basketball field and a small stadium for important announcements. Such as this one, probably.

Everyone gathers in the schoolyard. Each class forms a square formation that stretches to the back. Boys and girls have a different square lines, sided by each other. After every class forms its own line. The Principal gets to the stadium, testing the mic that is put there.

My prediction was right. The Principal talks about the second semester and how he's looking forwards to it. I don't know why and don't care since it mostly says how students should spend their time according to the school. Which is obviously, studying.

I didn't listen to the rest of the speech, but I'm convinced that I didn't miss any important announcements. After he's done with his speech, everyone disbands their line and goes everywhere they wanted like ants crawling around.

I'm going back to class since I really want to sit so badly, after standing in a sun-burning yard listening to the Principal's 'speech'.

Not to be surprised, I was the first one to arrive at the class. Everyone else wanders around waiting for the next schedule at 8 AM and now is still 7:50 AM.

I once again sit and bury my face into my arms and the desk.

To once again be annoyed by Tomi. "Yo, I want to pick up the last conversation" Says him while shaking my right shoulder.

"Huh? Give me a break already. What was it?" I ask annoyed.

"It was you guessing on how I spent my vacation time".

"It's not that important...".

"Just guess it".

I take a deep breath and then exhale it.

"Hufft... Go to GameCenter and play games every day" I answered curtly.

"Woah, amazing. You got it bullseye!" He shouted.

GameCenter is the place if you want to buy various types of games. I happened to see Tomi going there when he wanted to go to the bookstore. For my guesses on how I know Tomi was playing games, Tomi is indeed a game lover or often called a gamer.

"I happened to see you enter the GameCenter on my way to the bookstore".

"Oh, Why didn't you say hi?".

"I don't want to bother you".

"Who would be bothered by a greeting? You just don't want to bother and go straight to the bookstore, Didn't you?".

Bullseye.

"Well, whatever. What did you buy at the bookstore anyway?" Tomi asked again.

"Continuation of a novel I finished two weeks ago".

"You seem to really like that series, lend it to me some time".

"You're not the kind of person who enjoys reading books" I said with a mocking tone.

"Oh, I'm not so sure about that..." The little smirk in Tomi's mouth.

"Then..." I said while nodding at Tomi's face. "Just go to the library, there are lots of scientific books to read so your grades go up a little".

I hit the pedal.

"RUDE".

Someone has entered the classroom. Without realizing it, many students were already present in the class.

"Okay kids, sit at your own desk" Said our homeroom teacher.

"Expect revenge" Tomi said in an annoyed tone and then went to his desk.

All the students were already seated at their desks and our homeroom teacher started talking.

"I will take the first and second schedule to do counseling for the second semester and surprise all of you".

Two subject schedules huh... That's about an hour and a half.

Says my mind.

The students were confused by the word 'surprise' that was said by our teacher. Since the 'Surprise" can be anything from good to bad. The class started to get noisy and our teacher, usually called Ms. Lily, told us to be quiet.

"Okay, okay there's no need to be loud just because I said the word 'Surprise'. It's not something bad so just shut it".

The class goes silent again.

"Okay, for today..." Ms. Lily continued her talks.

I opened the book and read it. It might seem impolite, but I still listening to Ms. Lily's speech. It's one of those hidden talents that everyone has. Ms. Lily has also 'give up' on my attitude a long time ago. Because in the past, she often scolded me for not paying attention to her while talking. But when she asked questions about what was discussed, I answered them with ease. It had been repeated several times before she finally gave up.

"...You will have a new classmate".

...

The class that was already silent is made even more silent by what Ms. Lily said. All the students are completely silent. It took me a few seconds for me to return from the book world to reality.

A shocking reality that is.

"Eh...".

"EHHHHHHHHH".

"HAAAAAAAAA".

Many voices of surprise were raised by the announcement.

I, who was also surprised looked towards the classroom door and saw a gray silhouette in the hallway window.

The hallway windows weren't as clear as the windows to the outside of the school. So what is behind the window is not clearly visible.

"All right, all right, SHUT UP!!!" Ms. Lily snapped at us to be quiet. The class returned to silence. I saw the silhouette in the window move slightly as Ms. Lily gave a loud yell. She continues her talks. "You guys, can you not be too noisy? It will disturb other classes".

Even though what overpowered the shocked voices of the students was her own shout. "All right, everyone's quiet. Hana, come in girl" said Ms. Lily while facing the door.

The silhouette moves from the window...

Familiar name, maybe...

I drop the book I was holding to the table.

2.

The sound of the class is really noisy and chaotic when the teacher announced that there will be a transfer student that goes into their class.

I'm nervous.

I didn't think the transfer of a new student would make such a commotion.

I'm scared.

I can't forget those moments.

"...Hana, come in girl" The teacher told me to enter the classroom.

I took a breath and let it out. "... Huffft... OK!" I muttered.

I step into the classroom and feel all the gazes on me. I stand in the center of attention, in front of the whiteboard.

"Introduce yourself" Said the teacher.

I open my lips. "... N-nice to meet you, my name is Hana Binatha, and I'm transferring to this school in the second semester. I hope we can be friends" I said in a loud tone so I could be heard. Though I'm really nervous inside.

Everyone fell silent, and after a few seconds, I heard whispers from person to person. What they were talking about, I don't know.

"Sit on an empty chair, there are a few in the back rows" She ordered.

I started walking. All the eyes of the class were on me. I can only stare forward, towards the empty seats in the back row. I once looked to my side...

I see...

Ah... What a nostalgic and familiar vibe...

I said to myself.

Stopping at an empty table with a chair tucked into the table, I can't help but just stares still into the empty table. There are a few empty seats, maybe someone is absent. I pull up the chair, hung my bag on the table hanger, then sit on the chair with my arms crossed on my thighs.

"Hana moved here for several reasons, it would be impolite to ask. Therefore, be friends with her" said the female teacher

"Yes..." Their voices sounded weary...

After that, the supervising teacher started talking about the second semester. I, who just start taking lessons in the second semester, can only follow little by little.

...

While the teacher is talking, the class atmosphere is really awkward, only the teacher's voice can be heard. Though, I can feel the gazes of other students toward me.

"... Alright, that's it for the counseling this time, I'll be leaving the class. See you kids later".

"Yes..." answered the students in unison.

She then walked towards the door only to stop and turn towards us and say. "Ah, don't forget to become friends with Hana, she'll need someone to show her around the school. Become good friends with her".

...

No one answered. The class just fell silent.

Maybe it's true, they are reluctant to be friends...

I said to myself while lowering my head and clenching my fingers.