Joy: A Hope's
Chapter 13: Defended

“Close our MOS activities on today, I ask each department representative at least two people to display his talent.”

It was because of those words that Joy ended up on stage at the moment. Standing stiff, confused about what to do because of gerogi. Joy is eager to blame her friends who chose and registered Joy to the committee as one of the representatives of their majors.

The teenager was about to open his voice with the help of a mic right in front of his lips, but only a stammering sound could be heard. Cheers of caci maki immediately sounded boisterous filled the spacious school environment. Everyone laughed at Joy.

Joy could only lower her head to hide her red face. Strong clenched hands on the side of gray pants. Not because of anger, but solely to strengthen yourself to stay standing firmly in place. Not running off the stage like in the scenes of films or soap operas that he often watched.

It's so shameful to be laughed at in public like this.

A girl sitting in a stand-place committee-assembled-up from her seat made some of her friends wonder.

“Eh, Ran! Where are you going?” A student shouted at him. The boy had just returned from the cafeteria with two bottles of drink. The one drink he was about to give to the girl who was now running to the middle of the field and ended up on stage.

The girl with the one-pointed hair took the mic in front of Joy making some of the students who were watching her so wonder what she was about to do. The other students were busy laughing at Joy.

As soon as the mic was brought close to the lips, the noise from the system sound was heard. Next was Rani's voice.

“Shut!” One word. But able to calm the mood.

The cold fury that was stirred with rage stared at the hundreds maybe even thousands of disciples in front of him. Rani would not like to see direct bullying like this.

In the front row three men who are still giggling laugh at Joy managed to attract the attention of Rani.

“Eh, you three! Already feel better you than him?” rani said while pointing at the man beside her.

The three men immediately closed their lips. The atmosphere was completely silent. No one else dared to refute their senior's remarks.

“The theme hasn't spoken has been laughed at.” Rani grumbled.

“Whoever laughed at Joy. Try to show his talent! Dare, no?” challenge Rani.

And when her words just now did not get any response, Rani squinted her lips down. After a brief pause and only silence, Rani turns her attention to Joy.

The mic changed hands to Joy's back. Joy's gentle strokes on her reflex shoulder both startled and slowly calmed down at the same time.

“Rileks aja. Don't mind them. Think of yourself as being alone, okay?” rani.

Joy nodded. With a thin smile she replied, “Still, Sister.”

Only a nod by Rani. Then the girl walked off the stage. Once she looked back and muttered a word of encouragement to Joy.

That smile is widening. As if getting a boost, without any more nervousness Joy recited a poem she had written a few years ago.

Of the many pairs of eyes that watched Joy with a look of adoration, Joy was only fixated on one look of a girl on the terrace of the corridor. Rani was looking at him so fixedly, with a timid smile imprinted on her lips as soon as she realized Joy was returning her gaze. Each word strung from Joy's lips formed a beautiful phrase that made her cheeks red.

The two were unaware of a sharp gaze from someone not far from where Rani was. Jaws are hardened and hands are firmly clenched. He watches Joy so intently-bak monitoring the prey that must be pounced-with a hateful flush emanating in her eyeballs.

Rani. Forever is his. He would never allow anyone to have that gleaming girl other than himself! Firmly in the mind.

Not noticeably, Joy had walked down from the stage accompanied by applause from the students - who had laughed at Joy-so after reading her work in the form of poetry.

Joy returned to her ranks gathered. Greeted with great fanfare for successfully representing their majors more than a good word.

Simultaneously, the activities were again taken over by the committee. The three-day MOS activity was ended by a greeting from the principal.

***

The hot sun that afternoon seemed to want to burn alive all the creatures on earth. The ozone layer is slowly thinning due to human actions itself feels no longer functioning.

At a school front stop stood a male student in an ash-white uniform waiting for a public invitation that usually passes on time. However, either because there are obstacles on that day so that the angkot is half an hour late.

His eyes narrowed, the sun blazing. Sweat flowed from the temple down to the face. Sometimes he wears the back of his hand. Breath and hard breathing drain from the lips. Not only that, jakun up and down due to dry esophagus.

“His old crap is very, dah,” grunts him to so many times. Again, rub the sweat that has seeped into the face.

“Joy!”

Until the call from the side distracts the teenage boy.

Joy smelled a smile. “Hai, Brother.”

The girl in the same uniform as Joy frowned as if asking why Joy was still at the stop. “I think you've come home Joy,” he said.

Joy grinned showing her pretty neat rows of teeth. “Numbered, Brother. The freight has not passed either,” Joy explained.

Only replied with a nod of a sign of understanding by Rani. Then the girl walked to the side of the stop and took her place on the bench that had been provided. Seeing Joy pacing back and forth restlessly, Rani called out and invited her to sit down. Joy turns around with her smile and walks over to Rani.

Both of them sat on the bench in a quiet atmosphere. Rani looks straight ahead, while Joy occasionally steals glances at the pretty girl next to her. There is no stopping Joy is captivated by the look of her senior brother.

“Still, Brother,” chirps Joy suddenly without knowing.

Rani who heard instantly turned her head and raised one eyebrow. His head was a little bit. “Still? Make what?” ask Rani.

Joy Daydreams are crumbling. The teenager immediately turned his face with his head shaking a few times. In my heart there is no stopping to curse.

As she glanced at Rani a glance through the tail of her eyes and the girl still looked at her demanding an explanation. Again, Joy was made clumsy. While scratching his non-itchy nape, he said, “I-it, Brother. Thanks for that one. Help me to marry the kids.”

Rani who seemed to lack confidence in Joy's explanation squinted, Joy was intimidated. Before in the end Rani mangosteen while muttering the letter o.

“Casual aja times,” the grin at the end.

“Btw, you were really cool reading the poem. I did not expect loh turned out to be my hostess neighbor who is good at reading plus poetry,” continued Rani with a look of admiration.

“Still, Brother.” Joy smelled a smile. His head lowered to hide the look of his face which was now like a boiled shrimp.

“You're wellcome.”

The conversation of the two ended along with the arrival of the angkot that had been waiting for earlier. Joy glanced at Rani, then the two went to approach the angkot on the side of the road.

***