Like a Former Nail
Episodes 1.1
“Who is the girl?” ask the girl in the red checkered shirt while nudging a friend's elbow next to her.
“Kok still goes to campus, huh? Is it not shameful?” timpal the figure that was nudged earlier.
“What a total unexpected. Though her appearance is like a good girl,” said the red shirt again.
“The name is Gebri Adinda, right?”
TAP. Gebri's feet stopped immediately. Stiffened for a moment before taking a deep breath and moving his legs back. Trying to ignore. Actually he had expected–moresince he saw one of the friends in his first high school first who became the committee of OSPEK–news it will be revealed, revealed by word of mouth with a little extra spices. But Gebri did not expect it to be this fast. It has only been a month since the orientation of studies and the introduction of the campus to new students began. Only an interval of two weeks since facing the SKS course and meeting with the lecturers who delivered it.
Gebri's feet continued to move up the stairs to the second floor. There is an Introduction to Accountancy 1 course today.
“Geb!”
Gebri turned around when a familiar voice caught his ear, finding a glasses girl in a plain blue shirt and a smiling pencil-black trousers. The girl ran a little closer to him.
“In room II-7, right?”
Gebri just nodded his head.
“Yuk!” said the girl named Koning who preceded Gebri to climb the stairs.
Gebri. He was stuck in his place and felt a little strange. Does Koning not avoid it, or whisper like others, mentioning his name with various negative speculations, not close to him let alone greet casually like this?
“Geb, yes! We need to hurry, so we can get a seat in the back. I was lazy to be in front, especially in Mr. Edy's course.” Koning waved his hand, telling Gebri to catch up immediately.
“You're not ashamed to walk beside me?” gebri asked when he was next to Koning, once in a while he fixed the location of the black backpack strap that was about to go down to the arm.
“What's the reason?”
“About the news that I...”.
“That's just gossip, right? There's no way you're like that. Your face looks good child,” continued Koning with his trademark grin that shows his teeth on the left.
“Ehm... It's Facts. I did once...” Gebri was unable to continue, his tongue suddenly like a bone. It's very hard to throw.
His past is too painful to remember. Plus the cheerful expression of Koning is now a little dimmer, increasingly making Gebri reluctant to say it. Maybe this is the story of his college days. Alone and become a wasted figure. Koning–the girl who became first friends on the first day of OSEK–will definitely stay away from him. Who wants to be friends with a despicable figure like him, never made a fatal mistake in adolescence, at the age of fifteen years. Huh! Gebri sighed, then held the base of his nose. Little dizzy.
Formerly while continuing High School in Solo, the tragic story was not revealed in the slightest. High School is going well. But now the situation is different, the High School period is much different from the college period. At this time they can meet people in any part of the province, not least the Metropolitan city. There must be a chance that people have known him, even knowing his dark story five years ago.
“Yuk, we're going to class! Hunting Mr. Edy comes later,” exclaimed Gebri spread a sudden silence present and step foot first, away from the figure of Koning who was still dumbfounded on the steps.
But not yet in front of the classroom door, his footsteps stopped again. Gebri's body was riveted for the umpteenth time this morning. His eyes stared slightly in disbelief at the furry figure of the angular fringe model who was also looking at him.
It seems like the old saying that the world is not as wide as moringa leaves is not always true. From the territory of Indonesia which has more than 13,000 islands, Gebri and a male figure who still stands in front of room II-9 with a branded massenger bag still hanging on his shoulder, meet and meet each other face to face in this city, a city known as the City of Students. The man did not change much, still looking haughty and intimidating with both eyes that were as sharp as his eagle. For years, Gebri had not seen him and thought they would never meet again. The last word heard, the man continued his High School in Singapore, the country where his father was born.
Gebri quickly broke eye contact between them, pulling his way into the classroom. Not to be affected in the least. The past remains a time that cannot be changed, no need to regret or fear let alone invited to the present. Let the past be the history and evidence of his life story. All he has to do now is focus on college, fast graduation, then get a decent job and be able to make Mother and her younger brother happy.
^_^
The woman standing in front of the cashier's desk looked through the contents of the plate, then looked up her face towards Gebri. “Drink what Mbak?” tanyakanya.
Gebri shook his head. “Not necessary, Ma'am.”
“All eight thousand, Ma'am.”
“This is the money, Ma'am,” said Gebri while handing over a sheet of bluish purple money with a design drawing of national hero Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II.
“The return is two thousand. Mature suwun, Mbak.”
“Sami-sami, Ma'am.”
Gebri took the plate and circulated it. His eyes traced a room that was not very large, only measuring around forty square meters. Find an empty seat. He ignored some students and students who were looking cynical, while whispering too. Currently he only needs a seat, finish his lunch, and return to class before one noon to attend Mathematics Economics courses.
Gebri slightly breathed a sigh of relief when he got a seat in the corner of the room. A strategic place to eat himself like he is now, and just a few mouthfuls, the android phone that was in his black backpack pocket vibrated. Gebri spooned the rice into his mouth before picking up his phone, and saw a message plastered on the green dialog box.
From Galang. His younger brother. The teenage boy must have asked about his condition, like the usual days since stepping foot in Yogyakarta.
Gebri immediately replied to his Line message. Telling her that she is fine, and not forgetting to ask about the middle-aged woman named Rasti who had given birth to her. How's the lady doing? For a long time they never joked with each other. Since five years ago, probably since that shameful event. About something that people call ‘aib’.
Gebri's mind wandered far away. Recalling the days of the week after the decision of both families. At that time he was sitting on the floor while having fun. In his hand was a newspaper. He bought it when he went to the hospital. Once his eyes glanced at the figure of a teenage boy with his eyes closed. The infusion rope flows and ends on the left hand side. His condition is now stable enough.
KRIEEET...
Gebri turned towards the door, seeing a woman dressed in a knee-length canal and glasses perched on her nose. The face looked more tapered than a month ago with dark circles surrounding his two manics. It was obvious fatigue there.
“What does the doctor say, Bun?”
The middle-aged woman did not budge. His gaze continued to be directed towards the bed, looking at the figure of Galang who was still happy to close his eyes.
Gebri got up from his seat. Getting closer to Rasti. “Bun, what did the doctor say?” Gebri repeated his question, maybe the mother did not listen to him.
“Pretty good.”
“But why is Galang not conscious, Bun?” Gebri again asked the question, feeling that the answer was not satisfactory.
Like earlier. Rasti returned indifferently.
“Bun—”
“Go home! You are no longer needed here,” said Rasti who still does not want to take her eyes off Galang.
“But I want to accompany—”
“GO HOME!” cut Rasti again which now raises her tone to several octaves.
Gebri slightly jerked. During this time, the middle-aged woman very rarely called out loud voices. Can count fingers. But if it does happen, it means he is very angry, probably the same as today. Then inevitably, with a heavy heart Gebri away from the room Galang. And from that day on, he began to realize something. Although all this time he never showed clearly, it turns out the mother hated him. Maybe he hated himself so much and it all started with that disgrace.