I'm Not a High School Boy
CHAPTER 40: The Wicked Plan of Vienna

"So the good guy turned out to be tiring" complained Gisel who was too tired.

How not? It's been the last hour Tika forced him to run here and there, trying all the game machines in the game center. The Gisel energy indication bar may currently be at 10%.

Since Rey today didn't take him to practice, Gisel took advantage of today to do something, which was to please Tika.

In a short conversation with Rey while under the stairs, Gisel suddenly thought that he had too often refused Tika to approach him. Though, if hearing from Bagas' explanation, Tika did this because she was worried about Kanaya.

That was why, Gisel thought of easing his worries a little. And he was sure, Kanaya would also do the same when she found out about this.

The first step Gisel took was to bring her home late together. That simple thing alone had taken Tika by surprise. He can hardly believe Kanaya, his best friend did that.

The next step was to take her to explore the mall.

And, the game center is their umpteenth goal today.

"Come, Aya. We play it," exclaimed Tika excitedly as he pointed to the arcade basketball machine that was empty players. Gisel's hand kept on pulling.

Not satisfied with that, now Tika moved again to another arcade, and so on until his breath was really no longer able to pump his heart.

"Rest yuk, Aya. Find a meal," take Tika.

"Finally, O Lord ..," cried Gisel in his heart. His head was singing a praise of gratitude for this miracle. He almost thought that maybe someone would take him home.

................

"I guess I heard it wrong, "said Tika suddenly as they were eating ice cream in the outdoor room of the mall.

After hours of playing, then eating ice cream while looking at the garden scenery can be a pleasant reliever of fatigue.

"What?" asked Gisel, as he tucked the ice cream from the cone he was holding.

"Thus. When you brought me home together. I thought I heard wrong." Tika looked very enthusiastic when explaining it. He seemed to like the moment.

"We used to do this often. If you feel lazy to go home, you must take me for a walk. Since papa said you're amnesiac, I don't think we can walk like this just like we used to. But it turns out ... Hihi ..."

And as long as they enjoy their ice cream, that's when Tika starts babbling, telling her about her time with Kanaya.

Slowly, from Tika's story, Gisel begins to understand why Kanaya is acting away from her own friends.

Too happy. That's answer.

Too happy is Kanaya's answer to the question of why in the end everyone would leave.

He was too happy with his mother. And then, his mother died. He tries to be happy with his father, but it turns out his world is filled with Clara and Nabila.

Too enjoy happiness so that Kanaya is afraid that her happiness will eventually go away and disappear.

Therefore, he confines himself to Tika and Adit. But, maybe the sense of regret is too big for them until Kanaya becomes difficult to be able to actually do it.

But, suddenly, Tika's excitement changed.

"Wait!"

When Tika said that, her eyes were already staring at Gisel straight and sharp. Tika squinted her eyes as if she was looking for an answer that Gisel was hiding. Though, Gisel had no idea, what was Tika wanting from him?

"K-why? M-want to play again?," asked Gisel nervously.

"You're suddenly coming home today together, and we're going for a walk all day, playing, eating, this is it."

Tika's two hands then held Gisel's shoulders, then shook them repeatedly. "Honestly, Aya! You don't have a serious illness, do you? The doctor didn't tell me your life was a few months away, did he?" asked Tika suspiciously.

"Why the sudden thought of that, anyway?"

Gisel begins to recall that Tika is the queen of drama. The child must be thinking about excessive things to create a drama scene in his head.

"If people suddenly change they usually want to ..." Tika hurriedly covered her mouth with both of her hands.

But Gisel knew what the next word was. If it was a question about Bahasa Indonesia, he would probably get a point from that question.

"You don't expect me to die soon, do you?"

"Where is it?!? I love you so much, Aya!"

Gisel tries hard to free himself from Tika's embrace. People started looking at them. Gisel repeatedly smiled awkwardly at all of them.

"Free, Tika. People are starting to think we're a couple ..."

Gisel could not continue. He already felt the fur all over his body goosebumps.

"Wildamah! We are soulmates!"

Tika tightened her embrace.

"Campus!," Inner Gisel shouted.

In the end, Gisel could only resign.

......................

"Have you come home?" asked Rey the first time Gisel called her.

"Hmm .. Are you in the office? Don't come here, Rey. I'll just go home by myself."

"Don't! I'm going there now. I just finished the meeting. It's about 10 minutes from your place. So, wait, yeah. Not long, really," pinta Rey.

But, Gisel doubted it. "Really?"

"Really! Anyway, wait for me, Gi!"

Gisel saw a drink vendor across the mall. He thought about buying it instead of having to go back inside the mall.

"If so, I wait in the park next to the mall, yes."

"Okay, I'm going there now."

And, the call was interrupted. Rey decided.

Gisel could only sigh in acceptance of his best friend's coercive attitude. Inevitably, he had to wait.

Five minutes passed, Gisel was still patiently waiting while enjoying the drink he had just bought. The condition of the garden that Gisel saw at this time was quite quiet. There were only a few pairs of lovers sitting on a park bench talking without caring about others around.

As Gisel was putting mosquito repellent lotion on his feet, he noticed a pair of shoes belonging to a woman standing in front of him. Gisel lifted his head.

Viennese. He saw Vienna was in front of him at this moment.

Gisel continued his activities without looking at Vienna at all. "What's wrong? What do you want?"

This time, several pairs of legs appeared behind a pair of Vienna-owned legs. This time, the legs belonged to a man. Gisel turned his head back.

Turns right. Some unpleasant looking men were staring sinisterly at Gisel. Some are just empty hands. Some carried a piece of wood in their hands. Some carry baseball bats.

"It looks serious. Very seriously," thought Gisel.

He could see himself now alone facing Vienna and his friends. The people he had seen, now everything was gone somewhere. Gisel was sure they would not bother to help him at this moment.

He put down his lotion bottle, and put his school bag on the bench. Slowly, Gisel stood up to Vienna and the people he brought with him. Gisel. Five people.

"Today I see, you brought a lot of friends. Where are you taking me?" asked Gisel. He's on guard. But hidden with his indifference.

"Smart as well," Vienna commented with his cynical smile. "What if you volunteer so you can know where I'm taking you?"

"sorry. But my mom said I can't go with strangers."

Gisel grew more alert, as Vienna began to step back, while the Viennese began to advance closer to Gisel.

The moment Vienna gave its mark to all of them advancing together. Gisel began to dodge in search of his wider space of movement.

Gisel's fight with the five was inevitable. Five against one was definitely not a balanced opponent, but looking at their abilities, Gisel was still confident of being able to deal with all of them.

The problem was when they started to split up. Gisel was unable to divide his concentration on them separately. He increasingly understood the reason Vienna brought so many people just to take him.

"If only there had been Rey ...," thought Gisel.

But Rey is not here. Now there is only Gisel himself who has to face them all.

Punch after punch Gisel could avoid. Some of them also get punches and dings from Gisel. At least three of the five were already injured and overwhelmed by Gisel.

At that moment, the three injured people retreated from Gisel's sight, leaving two people before him at this moment.

As one of the two men slashed his punch, Gisel caught his hand, then gave it a punch right in his face. The man screamed in pain.

And just as Gisel was about to let go, something hit the back of his neck.

BUGS!

Gisel instantly searched for the origin of the punch he had just received.

BUGS!

The second hit on his back. Gisel began to collapse. His body can no longer be controlled. His strength seemed to be drained from the blow.

At that moment, the two men held onto his arm and took him away. Once Gisel tried to fight back. But then, another man beat his back again. Gisel was falling and helpless.

He saw a white van waiting for him to ride. Before they pushed him inside, Gisel heard a voice.

"GIE!"

"Rey ..."

That's Rey's voice. He wants to see Rey. But his head was too heavy to lift.

"GKLIV!!!"

Rey's last call sounded quite desperate in Gisel's ears. And both of Gisel's eyes were getting heavier to keep them open. Slowly, Gisel's consciousness began to disappear. It was like he was drowning in deep water. Who inexplicably will take him where.