Joy: A Hope's
Chapter 15: Strange Taste

The break bell rang a few minutes ago. The students of SMK Bina Negoro have been scattered out of class. Each with a specific purpose. Whether going to the cafeteria, reading books in the library, hanging out in various corners of the school, or even playing ball in the field.

Unlike Joy who chose to stay in the classroom. Going out has no purpose. So, he better be in class just waiting for the break. Anyway, Joy doesn't have any pocket money. Ah yes, not without. Joy would rather save if she had more money than spend it with things that are not important. Especially now, the cost of Joy's school has doubled compared to the cost of school while in Junior High. Still good at registration yesterday Joy got a 50% discount on school fees for graduating through the track of achievement. If not wrong, students who pass through the regular track at this school, their school fees average one million and above.

Joy nodded her head remembering that. It could be that parents are stressed to think about the cost of school, not to mention the cost of living if it happens. Then, a rough gust of breath sounded from the teenager's nose. I don't know when he's going to be a burden on a family like this? See you in college?

“Makanya, Joy learned well so that later Joy does not feel indebted to father and mother. Seeing you succeed has made us proud. Our sacrifice to send you to school does not feel in vain,” said the mother at that time.

Her warm smile was in the shade of the orange sky that afternoon, and how gently the mother stroked Joy's black hair with her loving gaze. All of that is still recorded clearly in Joy's memory.

Joy ... will never forget that moment. If it can still be repeated, then Joy will continue to go back to that time and repeat it every time she misses. Ah, the answer is of course ‘iya, still.’, but the vibes are definitely different. Not the same anymore.

Awakening from the distant daydream, Joy moved from her seat. Her chest was warm full of a passionate taste. One of his goals that day. Joy needs to learn more. He will prove to both parents, especially to his mother that Joy can and will not waste their sacrifice to send him to school.

Classes are starting to fall. Only two or three students remained in the class with him. When Joy stepped out of class—willing to urinate into the toilet—her steps were stopped by a student who blocked her path.

“Hai,” greet the female student already standing in front of Joy. A faint smile was etched on his lips. Looks like he wants to get acquainted. If that's what immediately crossed Joy's mind.

“Hai.” Joy greeted back in a friendly manner.

The student looked wrong. Seen from his head that immediately lowered and a shy smile restrained on the lips. However, the extremely insensitive Joy only frowned in surprise.

“M-mau to canteen, yes?” he said again with a stammering voice.

Joy did not respond immediately. The man's focus was only on each change in the look on the girl's face.

“Bareng, yuk!” bring sparkling.

Joy laughed lightly. “Neg. I want to go to the toilet,” he replied as he chuckled at the end.

The look on the girl's face turned one hundred and eighty degrees. Smile on the lips, also twinkle in both eyeballs was gone out of nowhere. Replacing into lethargic and sour look.

Joy smiled awkwardly aware of the change. It doesn't taste good.

“Yes already, I first,” the part slightly bowed and went straight through the girl just like that.

The girl turned around and immediately exclaimed as Joy was already in the doorway. “My name, Aletta!”

Joy's steps stopped for a while, then passed back without responding to the girl's self-introduction. Not Joy did not want to get acquainted, but the situation was not supportive at that time. His urine could no longer be held.

***

The man just came out of the toilet. Her hair was a little wet after washing her face. His face also looked fresher than before.

While tidying up the hair that fell covering the forehead by combing it backwards. Joy's steps suddenly stopped. Though the classroom still had at least five steps or more from its place at that time.

His attention was distracted by the two disciples in the opposite corridor, precisely in the corridor of the library room building, chatting casually. The two-story building stands out more than the other buildings. The building was designed specifically for the teacher's room and office space on the top floor, as well as the library space on the lower floor.

Joy knitted her eyebrows together with squinting eyes to sharpen her eyesight. His head was slightly more forward.

“It ... Brother Rani?” he muttered, his left index finger reflexively pointing forward.

“Who else is talking to?” he continued talking to himself.

A male student who looks the same age as Rani. Dimples on the cheeks are formed whenever the corners of the lips are curved, as well as thin whiskers that begin to grow in the area between the lips and nose. Even Joy as a man recognized her face.

A strange feeling suddenly gnawed at Joy's heart. I don't know where it came from. Maybe jealous of the men who were with Rani, or maybe jealous of their closeness?

I don't know, Joy was surprised by her own feelings.

Joy was on the spot. Loyal looked at the two disciples despite already stepping from the corridor where they were chatting. Far away and lost from Joy's sight, the feeling in the chest was increasingly tight.

Joy doesn't know who the boy's student is. It might be Rani's classmate. Joy also did not know what the topic of their chat so interspersed with laughter. Also, several times Rani smiled shyly while looking at the man in silence.

Lulled in his own mind to the point of not being aware of the time that keeps rolling. Her break bell rang a moment ago, and Joy didn't hear it. All the students returned to the class. The once crowded corridor had now become deserted.

Joy was unaware of all that. Joy came to her senses when a teacher came over and patted her on the shoulder. The teenager jumped in shock and reflexively turned back.

Joy had just wanted to curse, but a sharp, intimidating look she got ignited her guts.

“Why are you still hanging around the corridor? Didn't hear the bell ring?” reprimand the man-mined teacher.

Her large body, as well as the low tone of voice she used while speaking made Joy goosebumps. Silence is not warty.

“A-anu Pak—”

“Log in class fast! Or am I legal?”

“I-iya, Sir.” Joy was horrified and immediately ran away from the killer teacher.

***